End of Life Decisions
Introduction
End of life decisions refer to the medical decisions made during the end of life and might have a possibly life-shortening effect. Decision-making procedures concerning end-of-life decisions are entrenched in ethical, political, sociocultural, and religious concerns (Martins et al., 2018). The significance of end-of-life decisions and intrinsic decision-making procedures is critical and these decisions involved legal and ethical aspects of care. Situations involving end-of-life decisions are associated with a lot of vulnerability and this can significantly affect the ability of the patient to exercise their autonomy. This paper presents an analysis of a case study where the patient (George) was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a degenerative disease when a person gradually loses their ability to eat, speak, move, and breathe, and eventually, death occurs. Accordingly, this paper will analyze the issue of impending death for the patient, and the euthanasia option, as per the Christian view. End of Life Decisions Essay Paper
Suffering of George as per the Christian Narrative & the Fallenness of the World
The fallenness of the world and suffering are interrelated in the Christian world. According to Shelly & Miller (2009), the fallenness of the world in Christianity began when God put Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Both Adam and Eve were supposed to take care of God’s creating. They did not have to work or suffer; until when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. Consequently, God chased them from the garden of Eden. This is what led to God separating Himself from humanity and thus this is where the fallenness of the world started (Shelly & Miller, 2009). Therefore, according to the Christian narrative, the start-point of suffering for human beings marked the fallenness of the world. This is the time when God cursed mankind and announced that human beings have to toil to get food. The suffering of George as per Christian narrative thus represents a curse from God.
On the other hand, according to the narrative of the fallenness of the world, George can attribute his suffering to his sinful ways, since the sin is the root cause of suffering in humanity. People keep committing sins and thus do not honor God’s will. George can thus attribute his suffering to his sinful nature, being a human being. People do not like suffering which is a curse from God that resulted from disobedience (Shelly & Miller, 2009). Suffering among human beings is inherent; therefore, George can console himself that he is undergoing what every person experiences.
How George Should Interpret His Suffering as per the Christian Narrative & the Hope of Resurrection
According to Christians, God created everything and sent Jesus to represent Him on earth to allow a human being to experience God through Jesus. As per the Christian narrative, George should interpret his illness as God’s will. Saybey (2016) explains that the purpose of suffering among human beings is to bring them closer to God. The experience of death was significantly changed when Jesus died on the cross. The worldview perceives death as painful and wicked but Jesus conquered death when he died and rose again. Similarly, human beings will also defeat death when they will resurrect with new bodies when Jesus will come for the church. End of Life Decisions Essay Paper
As per Christian narrative, God is ever redeeming human being and thus He will save human beings from death. People should thus mend their relationship with God and obey His teachings. Perceiving suffering as the will of God is comforting and also strengthens the faith of Christians. Shelly & Miller (2009) further explains that when a Christian interprets his/her suffering as a consequence of their sinful ways, such an individual can repent truthfully and change his/her sinful ways. God has reasons as to why He allows mankind to suffer yet He loves human beings so much. The main reason is to make human beings to stop sinning and follow God’s teachings. The good thing is that even after dying, Christians look forward to resurrecting by defeating death the same way Jesus defeated death on the cross.
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Therefore, George should reexamine his life, turn away from his sinful ways by repenting and going back to God. George should strongly believe that his suffering will stop once he dies (Shelly & Miller, 2009). When George repents, he has the hope of conquering death just like Jesus. When Jesus finally comes for the church George has the hope of resurrecting.
George’s View about the Value of His Life as a Person as per the Christian Worldview
According to the Christian worldview, regardless of the diagnosis of ALS, George should consider his life as valuable and a gift from God. Therefore, only God should take a life because He is the giver of life. People with terminal and painful diseases like Gorge should thus bear the suffering accompanying the disease the same way Jesus endured suffering here on earth and especially during the crucifixion (Shelly & Miller, 2009). The painful experiences such as terminal disease such as George’s should not lead to people ending their lives. As per Christian teachings, human being should continue believing in God despite the suffering there are going through.
Therefore, even when facing an unbearable and draining illness like ALS, George needs to know his life is still valuable to God. God has His reasons for allowing George to experience such illness and the accompanying suffering. It is upon George to thus try to figure out what God is trying to teach him through the disease. The Christian worldview would support George to continue persevering the illness and remember his life is still valuable and a treasured gift from God (Saybey, 2016).
Values and Considerations as per the Christian Worldview regarding the Euthanasia Option for George
The focus of the Christian worldview during the decision making about euthanasia involves the fact that suffering is part of life and human beings should accept suffering the same way Jesus did while He was on earth (Shelly & Miller, 2009). During His crucifixion, Jesus underwent immense suffering to a point of crying to God to take away the suffering. However, Jesus implied that the suffering should only be taken away if it was the will of God. The same way, George pray to God for healing but only if it is the will of God. If God’s will is for George to experience the illness, George should pray to God to give him the grace and strength to endure the suffering coming with the disease. George should also try to figure out what God is teaching him through his illness. This is because God may use many ways to teach us and make us mend our ways, and teaching can even come through suffering (Meilaender, 2013). End of Life Decisions Essay Paper
Believing about eternal life and resurrecting when Jesus comes back significantly affects how people perceive impending death. According to Christianity, both death and pain are God’s will. There is the hope of life after death when Jesus comes back for the church. Accordingly, George should believe that his illness is God’s will and God has a reason why He is allowing him to undergo suffering. Since God is the one who gives life, only God has the authority to take away life; euthanasia should thus not be an option for George.
Morally Justified Options in the Christian Worldview
The morally justified option for George according to the Christian worldview is to persevere and endure the suffering and pain that comes with the illness he has. George should endure until when God takes the pain by either healing him or through death.
The Christian worldview us against the option of euthanasia. Euthanasia is equivalent to human beings tampering with the pans of God; this is morally wrong as per the Christian worldview. God has His reasons for allowing suffering upon humanity and even His own Son underwent significant suffering while he was on earth. Euthanasia is thus an unacceptable option among Christians regardless of the pain and the suffering (Shelly & Miller, 2009).
My Personal Decision about George’s Situation
I believe that people with unbearable and agonizing diseases such as ALS should be allowed to choose euthanasia. This is because, during practice, I see people undergoing so much suffering especially when they have a terminal disease. The suffering is unbearable and heart-wrenching. Thus, instead of a patient undergoing so much suffering and eventually dies, the option of euthanasia can be considered when the patient chooses.
Conclusion
As per the Christian narrative, God is the giver of life and no matter the suffering a person is undergoing, God has a purpose. Therefore, people should not consider taking away their lives through options such as euthanasia. Sometimes God uses the suffering to make people turn away from sins and bring them closer to Him. Suffering is inherent among human beings because even Jesus suffered when He was on earth. Therefore, the morally correct decision for George as a Christian is to accept the suffering coming with his diagnosis and try to figure out God’s teachings through the sickness.
References
Martins S., Fradique, E., & Hernández-Marrero, P. (2018). End-of-Life Decision Making in Palliative Care and Recommendations of the Council of Europe: Qualitative Secondary Analysis of Interviews and Observation Field Notes. Journal of palliative medicine, 21(5), 604–615. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2017.0403. End of Life Decisions Essay Paper
Meilaender G. (2013). Bioethics: A Primer for Christians, 3rd Edition. Michigan: Eerdmans.
Saybey B. (2016). Definitions of death: brain death and what matters in a person. J Law Biosci. 3(3), 743–752.
Shelly J & Miller A. (2009). Called to Care: A Christian Worldview for Nursing 2nd Edition, Illinois: IVP Academic.
The practice of health care providers at all levels brings you into contact with people from a variety of faiths. This calls for knowledge and understanding of a diversity of faith expressions; for the purpose of this course, the focus will be on the Christian worldview.
Based on “Case Study: End of Life Decisions,” the Christian worldview, and the worldview questions presented in the required topic study materials you will complete an ethical analysis of George’s situation and his decision from the perspective of the Christian worldview.
Provide a 1,500-2,000-word ethical analysis while answering the following questions:
How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the fallenness of the world?
How would George interpret his suffering in light of the Christian narrative, with an emphasis on the hope of resurrection?
As George contemplates life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), how would the Christian worldview inform his view about the value of his life as a person?
What sorts of values and considerations would the Christian worldview focus on in deliberating about whether or not George should opt for euthanasia?
Based on the values and considerations above, what options would be morally justified in the Christian worldview for George and why?
Based on your worldview, what decision would you make if you were in George’s situation?
Remember to support your responses with the topic study materials.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
End of Life Decisions Essay Paper